Chapter 112：Facing The Consequences [2]

"Are you ready ? They are waiting," Hiroshi says, his eyes tell how anxious he is. Takeshi turns to him and gives him a thin smile, hoping it can calm his assistant a little. "Let's go," Takeshi invites him before himself take a lead to go to the meeting room. It is not an ordinary meeting. It is a director-board meeting. The meeting is held due to his case.

"おはよ ございます (Ohayo gozaimasu - Good Morning)," They both greet and bow their body right away after entering the room. All the directors and top-stockholders are already in the room, sitting around the big ellipse table in two rows. Some greets back to them. Takeshi and Hiroshi then walks to the only seats available, passing by Mr. Hamada on their way.

"Okay, they are here. Let's start the meeting," Mr. Hamada speaks to break the silence. Mr. Hamada is the president of Kin Momoji, Inc so he is in charge to lead the director board meeting. Mr. Hamada is always straight forward and blunt, thus he immediately reveals the exclusive contract that he considers being violated by Takeshi, also even though everyone there must have heard Takeshi's announcement of his girlfriend, Mr. Hamada still mentions it, emphasizing that it is one of the major point on the contract Takeshi has been violated. "So, I will give Hasegawa-san time to defense or maybe explains him self to all of you," Mr. Hamada ends his speech, looking at Takeshi with taunted sight.

Takeshi stands calm. He even still has a smile on his face. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I am guessing that all of you have known my official announcement. So, yes it is true. I have a girlfriend in Taiwan. But, I didn't violate any contract," Takeshi states in a calm and clear voice. Some of the audiences are mumbling or sighing to hear his last sentence. "It is written as the third point of your obligation..." Mr. Hamada says as a rebuttal of his statement. Takeshi turns to him then nods. "It is true, Sir. It is mentioned as the third point of the contract. But.. but.. when I started my relationship with this girl. which was around five months ago, the contract was already expired," Takeshi explains. More gasps and mumbling comes from the audience of the meeting. "What.. ?! It is a three years cont.."

"There is a footnote on the last page of the contract that state," Hiroshi snaps Mr. Hamada's words, quickly opens the contract on the table to the last page and reads the footnote he was saying, "This contract must be reviewed and revalidated annually to adjust the incumbencies of two parties." Mr. Hamada's eyes are almost popped out to read by himself the footnote. "The contract was signed at June 17th 1999, thus it should be renewed at June 17th 2000, but it wasn't. Actually it has not been renewed until now," Hiroshi continues.

"That's.. That's because you acted up during your first anniversary!" Mr. Hamada shouts in anger. "And my relationship started at 9th July 2000. I can prove it through email's date," Takeshi says again, ignoring what Mr. Hamada's shout. "What ?!?! So you were doing it on purpose ? You were boycotting me so I forgot about the renewal, thus you can start your relationship ?!?!" Mr. Hamada in rage.

Takeshi shakes his head. "No, Sir. You must know me well by now that I have never had any ability of scheming people. I did boycotted because I really was overwrought. It was purely a coincidence that i confessed my feeling to the girl at that date," Takeshi refuses what he is accused. "To be honest, I hadn't knew about the footnote until few hours before my announcement," he adds, his smile is a mix between sweet and bitter feeling, "I was going through my relationship with her in secret and even put it on the edge because I thought I was violating the contract."

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It's been two hours since Takeshi and Hiroshi left the meeting room so the directors board can discuss the resolution. "When will she be out from the hospital ?" Hiroshi asks to distract his anxious. "Should be this noon," Takeshi glances his watch, "Maybe now." Hiroshi looks at his calm face. "So, I'm guessing everything is good with you two ?" he asks again. "Yes," Takeshi nods then smiles at Hiroshi. "I'm sorry I got you into this," he then says. Hiroshi shakes his head. "It's nothing," he replies, "I'm not the one who really in trouble." Takeshi moves his sight upward and widens his smile. "I have faced the worst." Someone's head shows up from the double door of the meeting room, signaling them to come in.

"So, we have come to a resolution about this problem," an all-white hair man speaks up. Because it is between Mr. Hamada and Takeshi, then the board decides it is best for someone else speaks the resolution. "After carefully considering the problem, the pros and cons on each possible solutions, we have finally decides that this is the best resolution: Kin Momoji Inc. will not make any legal move since the contract was definitely expired when the problem occurred. Not only that, the board think that it is best for all of us that the president and Hasegawa-san renew the exclusive contract," the man states the decision. Mr. Hamada is nodding his had repeatedly, seems to satisfy with the decision.

"What do you say, Takeshi ?" Mr. Hamada asks while looks at Takeshi. "If the contract will be renewed, I'm just asking for the third point of my obligation to be erased," Takeshi answers almost immediately. Mr. Hamada widens his eyes. "You mean the point about you not in any relationship ? That is absolutely impossible!" Takeshi turns to Mr Hamada, his jaw is stiffen. "So, it means that I only can have the exclusive contract if I breaks up with my girlfriend ?" Takeshi asks. "You know exactly the reason why it is important," Mr. Hamada is pointing at Takeshi. "It is hard for an idol to be successful if he had a girlfriend. First of all, he will easily gets distracted. Secondly, his fans won't like it," Mr. Hamada reminds him again about the reason. "I believe my succeed is because of my talent," Takeshi says firmly. Mr. Hamada spits though nothing comes out. "I have been in this industry for so long. I know well how to raise a star. Yes, the talent is important. But keeping the fans dreaming to own your love is also taking a big part. When they know your love is already owned.. their dream will end, and so do their love to..."

"Then why did you suggest me to have a fake relationship with Saeki-san ?" Takeshi snaps. Mr. Hamada sighs. "That's a different case." Takeshi grins while looking at Mr. Hamada in an amused sight. This person is really good at scheming. "I'm afraid I have to reject the offer," Takeshi then says, making everyone, except Hiroshi, gasp. "You what ?" Mr. Hamada fumes.

"I don't want the exclusive contract anymore," Takeshi explains. "You think there is another offer ? Either you sign the exclusive contract, or you are no longer with Kin Momoji Inc.," Mr. Hamada threatens him with a loud voice. Takeshi moves his sight to Hiroshi who has looked at him, then smiles sadly. "Then, it means I have to quit," Takeshi then says with a low voice but quite firm. Another gasps let out from the audience. "I'm sorry," Takeshi whispers at Hiroshi before he walks out of the meeting room. The last thing he heard was Mr. Hamada swearing that he will not survive in this industry.